EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE (Ezemvelo) has decided to suspend commercial exhibition at KwaCheetah. KwaCheetah operates from within Nambithi Game Reserve situated outside Ladysmith. The decision to suspend KwaCheetah follows the recent incidents of cheetahs attacking at least three people within the last three months.

The first incident that Ezemvelo is aware of happened on 28th June 2015. The last two happened on 5th and 6th August 2015. The Cheetah involved in all these incidents will not be destroyed. The investigation is still on going and the Cheetah has not shown any form of aggression during the investigation.

Ezemvelo instituted an investigation on Wednesday, 12 August 2015 to determine how these attacks happened and if KwaCheetah was conducting its activities according to the Management Plan that they had submitted to Ezemvelo when they applied for a Keep in Captivity permit.

During the investigation, Ezemvelo discovered that KwaCheetah was already conducting certain activities which are still being considered whilst other activities are not in line with their Management Plan. The activities that are not in line with the submitted Management Plan have resulted in the extensive consultation and lengthy review of the proposed Management Plan.

KwaCheetah has amenably welcomed the decision and has further ceased all commercial exhibition until Ezemvelo has decided on the status of their Management Plan. Both parties are working together to ensure that KwaCheetah conducts its activities within the applicable legislation failing which the permit will not be granted.

“It has to be noted that application for a permit does not automatically imply that a permit will be granted; rather that Ezemvelo will consider all prevailing facts before reaching a decision. Applicants conducting operations without obtaining a permit prior to commencing their activities do so at their own risk. The public has a right to ask if such organizations have necessary permits and are advised not to visit such places should they not be happy with an explanation provided.” The Acting CEO of Ezemvelo, Dr MD Mabunda warned.